DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
German news & articles
Multiple coronavirus restrictions to be lifted in North Rhine-Westphalia
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Multiple coronavirus restrictions to be lifted in North Rhine-Westphalia

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Germany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisisGermany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisis
Who was Saint Corona and why are people asking for her help?Who was Saint Corona and why are people asking for her help?
Germany flies in more coronavirus patients from France and ItalyGermany flies in more coronavirus patients from France and Italy
Coronavirus could cost Germany 730 billion eurosCoronavirus could cost Germany 730 billion euros
Germany looks to pass proposals for autumn COVID measuresGermany looks to pass proposals for autumn COVID measures
Life expectancy falls significantly in several German statesLife expectancy falls significantly in several German states
Cologne follows other German cities in switching off monument lightsCologne follows other German cities in switching off monument lights
Germany records 1,5 million COVID infections in a weekGermany records 1,5 million COVID infections in a week
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jul 9, 2021
William Nehra
William studied a masters in Classics at the University of Amsterdam. He is a big fan of Ancient History and football, particularly his beloved Watford FC. Read more

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is gearing up for the complete revocation of coronavirus contact restrictions, as infection rates continue to remain low in the state.

No more coronavirus contact restrictions in North Rhine-Westphalia

On Wednesday, the health minister for North Rhine-Westphalia, Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU), confirmed that coronavirus restrictions will be completely lifted in most regions of the state on Friday, July 9. This is the last stage (dubbed "Opening Stage Zero") of a four-step plan to reopen society within the state.

The revocation of all contact restrictions will automatically apply for all areas within the state that have a seven-day incidence rate of 10 or below - that is, an area that has a maximum of 10 new infections every seven days. Currently, this includes cities like Dortmund, Essen, Bonn, Duisburg and Bielefeld. However, in the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf, the seven-day incidence rate remains between 10 and 35 and as such the cities will stay in “Opening Stage 1,” in which tighter restrictions are still in place.

Which restrictions have been lifted?

Areas within the state that go into Opening Stage Zero will not face any contact restrictions in public life. Major events like street parties, football matches and festivals will all be allowed to take place with up to 25.000 attendants, though anyone wishing to attend will be obliged to show a negative coronavirus test or proof of recovery. At such events, masks and social distancing will be recommended, but not required. Similarly, contact details are no longer required to be taken in establishments such as restaurants, hotels and bars.

The mask requirement will still be upheld in certain areas though, and will still have to be worn on public transport, in shops, taxis, schools and when visiting the doctor. People who work closely with customers, such as waiters or hairdressers, will also either have to wear a mask or show a negative test.

Laumann justified the decision to revoke the state’s coronavirus measures with the fact that the number of infections and hospitalisations has fallen significantly and still continue to do so, while also hinting that measures might return should infections start to rise. “The new Corona Protection Ordinance takes into account the sustained positive developments in all relevant pandemic figures in recent weeks. For many areas of life, it means the return to normality,” he said. “However, we open with a sense of proportion and have set up a safety net to which we will fall back on in the event of an increasing incidence. In this way, we can react quickly to another increase in the number of infections.”

German politician criticises return to normality

SPD politician Karl Lauterbach criticised the decision to drop restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. “We are in a phase in which the number of cases is rising again and vaccination progress is slowing,” he said. “The timing of the easing surprised me, I would have found a later point in time.” Lauterbach warned that the easing of coronavirus measures increases the risk of infections shooting up in the autumn, and urged people to wear their masks and adhere to social distancing.

News of North Rhine-Westphalia’s reopening comes just after it has been reported that the particularly contagious Delta variant of coronavirus has become the dominant strain in Germany. Laumann has appealed to people in the state to get vaccinated, warning “the fourth wave will come our way.”

By William Nehra